The Cochrane Collaboration

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2004 (Bergamo)

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)

Report to Steering Group - February 2008 (Executive teleconference)

1.2 Colloquium Policy Advisory Group (CPAG)

Remit
To maintain a record of policy decisions about Cochrane Colloquia, to move forward new policies after appropriate consultation, and to help ensure that hosts of future Colloquia know about and adhere to such policies.

Accountability
To the Steering Group through the Executive Group.

Convenor/Co-Convenors
Nominated by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group.
Approved by the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be appointed by the Convenor/Co-Convenors of the group, and notified to the Executive Group, should include Steering Group members who represent Cochrane Review Groups, Methods Groups, Fields/Networks, the Consumer Network, and hosts of previous and future Colloquia.

Meetings and communication

Yearly meeting at the Colloquium.
E-mail discussion list.

Reports to Steering Group meetings
At the Steering Group meeting in Chengdu (11 and 12 April 2002) it was agreed that reports to the Steering Group by its sub- and advisory groups should be made available within The Cochrane Collaboration.

Report to Steering Group - October 2007 (São Paulo) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group - October 2005 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group - April 2006 (Khon Kaen) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2004 (Bergamo)

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)

Report to Steering Group - April 2008 (Vellore)

1.3 Feedback Management Advisory Group (FMAG)

Remit
To advise on policies and procedures for managing comments, criticisms and other feedback on Cochrane Reviews.

Accountability
To the Steering Group through the Executive Group.

Convenor/Co-Convenors
Nominated by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group.
Approved by the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be appointed by the Convenor/Co-Convenors of the Group, and notified to the Executive Group, should include at least two members of the Steering Group, at least two Feedback Editors, at least one Managing Editor, at least one Co-ordinating Editor, one Consumer Network representative, and others.

Meetings and communication
Yearly meetings at the Colloquium.
Teleconferences two or three times each year.
Permanently open communication to the FMAG Convenor by e-mail.
Ad hoc meetings and teleconferences to address extraordinary issues.

Duties of members
Members fulfil their FMAG role by communicating with the Convenor and other FMAG members both during meetings (see below) and outside meetings (discussion list and e-mail).

Responsibilities of FMAG members include:
- Bringing to the attention of the FMAG Convenor any problems, errors and inconsistencies caused by current policies and procedures, particularly those that impact on their area of expertise;
- Suggesting solutions to such problems;
- Providing constructive criticism through discussion of current and proposed FMAG policies;
- Suggesting improvements to current policies and procedures;
- Providing two-way communication with constituents in the FMAG member’s area of expertise;
- Attending the FMAG meeting during the Colloquium and participating in teleconferences;
- Appointing a deputy when unable to attend meetings.

Report to Steering Group - October 2007 (São Paulo) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group - October 2005 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group - April 2006 (Khon Kaen) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2003 (Bergamo) – no report submitted.

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)

Report to Steering Group - July 2009 (Executive teleconference)

1.4 Handbook Advisory Group (HAG)

Remit
Responsible for the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (formerly called the Reviewers' Handbook). Also responsible, since October 2004, for providing advice to the RevMan Advisory Group and the Steering Group on the content and structure of Cochrane Reviews (in particular, by gathering opinions from members of Methods Groups); and providing advice on structure style and production to the editors of the Cochrane Handbook for Diagnostic Test Reviews.

Accountability
To the Steering Group through the Executive Group.

Convenor/Co-Convenors
Nominated by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group, after seeking the advice of the outgoing Handbook editor(s), and with the approval of the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be appointed by the Convenor/Co-Convenors of the group, and notified to the Executive Group, should include one named convenor (or their representative) from each Methods Group, the Adverse Events Sub-Group, and the Methodology Review Group; those methodologists currently on the editorial board without a role as a Methods Group Convenor; at least one Managing Editor, one Trials Search Co-ordinator, one Co-ordinating Editor, one Author and one Field Convenor (to be appointed by the Co-Editors from volunteers from the relevant groups); and two members of the Steering Group. Where a Co-Convenor of a Methods Group is acting in some other role on the Handbook Advisory Group (such as CCSG representative or Co-Editor), the Methods Group may choose to have another of its Co-Convenors represent it on this advisory group. All members have a fixed term of three years, with the option for renewal at the end of that term. Members' terms of office will be staggered so that a third come up for renewal each year.

Meetings and communication

Yearly meetings at the Colloquium.
E-mail discussion list.

Report to Steering Group - March 2008 (Executive teleconference)

Report to Steering Group - October 2007 (São Paulo) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group - October 2005 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group - April 2006 (Khon Kaen) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2004 (Bergamo)

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)

1.5 Information Management System Group (IMSG)

Remit
The Information Management System Group is responsible for overseeing the development of any software developed within the Collaboration that is mandatory to use (for instance, by the editorial bases of all Cochrane Review Groups), and for advising on Collaboration-wide use of other software.

The Information Management System Group is in particular responsible for managing the planning and development of the software tools and systems that make up the Information Management System ('Archie'), including the review writing software (RevMan), the software used to compile information for submission for publication in The Cochrane Library, a review tracking process, a process for handling feedback on Cochrane Reviews, and potentially other software tools and systems.

The following sub-groups have been established, which report to the Information Management System Group:

Editorial Management Advisory Group.
RevMan Advisory Group.
Technical Implementation Advisory Group.

The Information Management System Group works closely with the Feedback Management and Handbook Advisory Groups.

Accountability
To the Steering Group through the Executive Group.

Convenor/Co-Convenors
Nominated by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group.
Approved by the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be appointed by the Convenor/Co-Convenors of the group, and notified to the Executive Group, should include at least two members of the Steering Group; the Convenors of the Feedback Management Advisory Group, the Handbook Advisory Group, the Editorial Management Advisory Group, the RevMan Advisory Group, and the Technical Implementation Advisory Group (or their representatives); a representative of The Cochrane Collaboration’s publisher, a Co-ordinating Editor, a Managing Editor, and a representative of Cochrane contributors from developing countries (where information technology may not be as readily available as it is for other members of the Information Management System Group).

Meetings and communication

Three or four face-to-face meetings per year.
E-mail discussion list.

Report to Steering Group - October 2007 (São Paulo) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group - October 2005 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group - April 2006 (Khon Kaen) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2004 (Bergamo)

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – March 2003 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)

Report to Steering Group - April 2002 (Chengdu)

1.6 Quality Advisory Group (QAG) - Disbanded in April 2009

At its meeting in April 2009, the Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group disbanded the Quality Advisory Group, whose responsibilities have been passed to the Editor in Chief of The Cochrane Library. Thanks are due to all the members of the QAG, in particular its Co-Convenors, Sally Green and Harriet MacLehose.

Remit

To co-ordinate activities aimed at improving the implementation of Handbook guidance on quality.
To manage the Cochrane Style Guide and CRG Procedures website.
To identify areas in which guidance on quality is lacking, and work with appropriate entities to develop and implement guidance on quality.
Also responsible for providing advice to the Steering Group on surveys and the Cochrane Visiting Fellowship.

'Quality' refers to methodological quality of reviews, technical editing (including copy editing), and the editorial processes employed by Cochrane Review Groups, all of which are likely to impact on the ultimate quality of Cochrane reviews.

Accountability
To the Steering Group through the Executive Group.

Convenor/Co-Convenors
Nominated by the Chair of the Steering Group with the approval of the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be appointed by the Convenor/Co-Convenors of the Group, and notified to the Executive Group, should include members of the Information Management System Group, the Handbook Advisory Group, and the Feedback Management Advisory Group; also representatives of Methods Groups, Centres, Fields/Networks, the Consumer Network, and The Cochrane Collaboration’s publisher; also, two Steering Group members, a Co-ordinating Editor, a Review Group Editor (not a Co-ordinating Editor), a Review Group Co-ordinator, a Trials Search Co-ordinator, an Author, and other individuals selected on the basis of their demonstrated interest and activity in the area.

Meetings and communication

Yearly meetings at the Colloquium.
E-mail discussion list, and possibly additional e-mail discussion lists for particular projects.

Report to Steering Group - October 2007 (São Paulo) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group - October 2005 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group - April 2006 (Khon Kaen) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2004 (Bergamo)

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)

Report to Steering Group - October 2007 (São Paulo)

2 Monitoring and Registration Group (MRG)

Remit
The Monitoring and Registration Group is a sub-group of the Steering Group, responsible for establishing and implementing processes for monitoring and registering entities, and for making recommendations to the full Steering Group about de-registration of an entity.

Accountability
To the full Steering Group.

Convenor/Co-Convenors
The Convenor must be a member of the Steering Group; the Co-Convenor need not be, as long as he/she has served one year on the MRG beforehand.
Nominated by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group.
Approved by the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be nominated by the Convenor/Co-Convenors of the group, and approved by the full Steering Group, should include at least two Cochrane Review Group representatives, a Field/Network representative, a Methods Group representative, a Centre representative, and a Consumer Network representative. As many of these people as possible should be members of the Steering Group, plus additional non-elected members as required. Elected Steering Group members leave the MRG when they leave the Steering Group. Non-elected members may remain on the MRG for two three-year terms, but should leave by a process that ensures that not more than half the total number of MRG members leaves in any one year, in order to ensure continuity.

Meetings and communication

Twice-yearly meetings.
Teleconferences every three months between meetings if needed.
E-mail discussion list.

Report to Steering Group - October 2005 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group - October 2006 (Dublin) - access to report restricted.

Report to Steering Group - April 2006 (Khon Kaen) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2004 (Bergamo)

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)

Report to Steering Group - January 2008 (Executive teleconference)

3 Publishing Policy Group (PPG)

Remit
The Publishing Policy Group is a sub-group of the Steering Group. It is responsible for providing advice to the Editor in Chief of The Cochrane Library on the contents of the Collaboration’s products and setting the principles for the pricing, distribution and marketing arrangements for Cochrane products. The PPG also advises the Collaboration's publishers on many aspects of publishing (such as the accessibility and appearance of the Collaboration's website, the impact factor for Cochrane reviews, the format of citations for reviews, indexing issues, etc.). Where principles have been established, day-to-day management of these issues may be delegated to The Cochrane Collaboration’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Accountability
To the full Steering Group.

Convenor
One of the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group.
Approved by the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be nominated by the Convenor of the group, and approved by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group, should be kept to a manageable number, and the Group should be composed principally of Steering Group members. Managing Editors should be represented, as should the Cochrane Library Users’ Group (CLUG) and the Consumer Network. The membership should include one or more authors of Cochrane Reviews. The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) in York, UK, should be represented. As the publisher, Wiley should be represented. The Chief Executive Officer, the Editor in Chief, and the Director of the Information Management System should have non-elected membership. Members should leave the Group as their period of office on the Steering Group or in their primary role ends.

Meetings and communication

Meetings normally monthly by teleconference.
E-mail discussion list.

3.1 Cochrane Library Users’ Group (CLUG)

Remit
To advise on the content and design of The Cochrane Library. This group is expected to solicit and consider opinions and suggestions through an open e-mail list, surveys, etc.

Accountability
To the full Steering Group, via the Publishing Policy Group.

Convenor/Co-Convenors
Nominated by the Co-Chairs of the Steering Group.
Approved by the full Steering Group.

Membership
Members, to be appointed by the Convenor/Co-Convenors of the group, and notified to the Executive Group, should be inclusive rather than exclusive, and include people with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives representing different types of users. Should be international and interdisciplinary. Members should preferably be accountable to a group such as a professional or consumer organisation. Should include at least two Steering Group members who are not members of the Publishing Policy Group who are in a position to raise issues directly with the Steering Group rather than through the Publishing Policy Group, if appropriate. The membership should otherwise be made up of people who are not on the Steering Group and should include people who are not otherwise actively involved in the Collaboration.

Meetings and communication

Yearly meetings at the Colloquium.
Open e-mail discussion list.

Report to Steering Group - October 2007 (São Paulo) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group - October 2005 (Melbourne)

Report to Steering Group - April 2006 (Khon Kaen) - no report requested.

Report to Steering Group – October 2003 (Barcelona)

Report to Steering Group – October 2004 (Ottawa) – no report submitted.

Report to Steering Group – February/March 2003 (Bergamo) – no report submitted.

Report to Steering Group – July/August 2002 (Stavanger)